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`NITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. WIOKERSHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent N o. 17,460, dated J une 2, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. VVICKER- sHAM, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a new and useful Improvement in the Joints of Portable or F old-Up Iron Bedsteads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure l, is a side elevation of an iron bedstead with my improvement, as opened ready for use. Fig. 2, is an elevation of the same in its closed position, or folded up. Fig.4 3, is an elevation of the inner side of one of the legs, and Fig. 4, is an edge view of the same.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

Metallic bedsteads have long since been constructed in such a manner as to fold up; my invention therefore simply applies to the joint itself, made use of in such bedsteads; and to show the distinction between my construction of joint and others I will first briefly describe the joints that have heretofore been employed. A short projecting bar or plate with two holes has hereto fore been riveted on to each post of the bedstead, and each of the horizontal rails has been provided with two similar holes. Through the end holes a tie rod has been passed, that became a center pin on which to fold up the bedstead, and then by the insertion of a pin through the respective pairs of coinciding holes the bedstead has been retained in an unfolded position, but this is both diiiicult and unreliable; difficult on account of getting the holes for the pins to match, particularly when the bedstead gets bent or twisted as is often the case; unre liable, because all the strain comes on the pins, and the bedstead falls down unless the pins are inserted. The pins have also been thrown in by springs, but the same objec tions apply to this method, and the cost is considerably enhanced.

The nature of my said invention consists in forming a recess or shoulder in the corner post receiving the horizontal rails when the bedstead is opened, in combination with a pin inserted over the rail, whereby the weight and strain are taken on said shoulder of the post and the joint pin and-movable pin relieved of the same, and no difficulty arises in making the holes coincide, and the bedstead will stand, even without inserting the movable pins, thereby greatly facilitating the insertion or withdrawal of the pins for folding or unfolding the bedstead.

The bedstead is to be of any suitable width or length and the parts may be formed more or less ornamental.

A, A, are the metallic posts connected by rods l, and 2, to form either the head or foot board.

B, B, are the side rails jointed at 3 and 4 to the short legs C, in theusual manner, so that when unfolded the square points of the shoulders abut against said leg and retain the same vertically.

' a is a shoulder formed on, or by a recess in the post A, onto which -the underside of the rails B, at their ends, rest, and the rods 2, pass through holes in the ends of the rails B, in such a manner as to allow the bedstead to assume a folded or unfolded position, by the ,rails B being turned on said rods as shown; and for convenience of transportation the rails B, at one end may be notched above the hole so as to allow the same to be unhooked.

5, 5, are movable pins inserted through corresponding holes above the rails B when the bedstead is in an unfolded position, to confine said rails to the shoulder a, and the upper part of the rails B, may be slightly notched to pass the said pin, or not pro vided the casting of the post be sufficiently wide to allow room for the pin entirely above said rail, which latter arrangement I prefer as preserving the entire strength of the rails B.

I do not claim a fold up bedstead, neither do I claim securing the side rails by the insertion of a pin through two holes, but

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Securing the side rails in place when the bedstead is in an unfolded position by the combined operation of the shoulder a, and pin 5 inserted above the rail, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this eleventh dayV of April JOHN B. WICKERSHAM. Witnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, THOMAS G. HAROLD.

SOV 

